April 29, 2007

Indianapolis, Ind.- The UIC women's tennis team captured its 11th consecutive Horizon League Championship and its ninth straight berth into the NCAA Tournament with a 4-3 victory over Butler in the league final on Sunday.

After easily winning the doubles point, UIC had a tougher task on the singles side as Butler came away with three singles victories, including a back-and-forth battle at No. 1 singles between Callan Smith and Molly Casperson that went the Bulldogs' way in the third set.

The Flames received convincing two-set singles wins from Grace Gill-Morlis and Amy Jellish, but it came down to Lubica Nadsska's three-set win over Tiffany McLoughlin at No. 2 singles to clinch UIC's unprecedented 11th league title.

Nadasska rebounded from a 6-2 loss in the first set to capture the final two, 6-4, 6-3.

"It was a really great match," said UIC head coach Shannon Tully. "Butler definitely played well and pushed us until the end. Lubica stayed under control and pulled out a huge win for us.

"We stepped it up in doubles, and our singles winners did as well," said Tully. "It was one of those days where we had to fight for everything, and the perseverance of our team made it a very rewarding win."

UIC finished the year 10-0 against league opponents and ran its unbeaten streak against Horizon League foes to 93-0 dating back to 1997.

UIC 4, Butler 3

SINGLES
1. Molly Casperson (BU) def. Callan Smith (UIC) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
2. Lubica Nadasska (UIC) def. Tiffany McLoughlin (BU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Grace Gill-Morlis (UIC) def. Michelle Hawes (BU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Becky Jenkins (BU) def. Christina Oum (UIC) 6-3, 6-3
5. Chelsey Casperson (BU) def. Jenna Reisch (UIC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Amy Jellish (UIC) def. Carrie Rachon (BU) 6-1, 6-0

DOUBLES
1. Smith/Gill-Morlis (UIC) def. McLoughlin/Hawes (BU) 8-1
2. M. Casperson/Jenkins (BU) vs. Nadasska/Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) DNF
3. Oum/Reisch (UIC) def. C. Casperson/Rachon (BU) 8-2